Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the constipation scoring system for the pediatric population: A new tool to be used for constipated children

• Published in: Journal of pediatric urology 2024-04, Vol.20 (2), p.222.e1-222.e8
• Main Authors: Souza Santos, Maria Karolina Velame, Estevam de Abreu, Glicia, Pamponet, Clara Nunes, Calasans, Maria Thais, Taniguchi, Thiago Masahi, Veiga, Maria Luiza, Braga, Ana Aparecida Martinelli, Barroso Jr, Ubirajara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescents; Children; Functional constipation
• ISSN: 1477-5131; 1873-4898; 1873-4898
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2023.12.011

The Rome IV criteria are used to characterize constipation and its subtypes, but not its severity. Conversely, the constipation scoring system (CSS) is a tool designed to assess the level of constipation severity and assist clinicians in selecting suitable therapeutic strategies. Although validated for adults, this score has yet to be validated for children. To adapt and validate the CSS for the pediatric population. Children and adolescents of 4–17 years of age with no morphological or neurological abnormalities of the gastrointestinal system were randomly selected during general consultation with a pediatrician and evaluated between November 2021 to April 2022. The Rome IV criteria were considered the gold-standard detection method. The adapted version was initially assessed on 30 children to assess comprehension and then administered to another 100 children. The internal consistency of the adapted questionnaire was assessed in a test-retest procedure with a two-week interval. One hundred patients with a mean age of 8.61 ± 3.25 years were assessed. Of these, 51 (51 %) were male. Most children (n = 91) received a score of 1–10 (the total CSS score can range from 0 to 30 points). The correlation between the pediatric version of the CSS and the Rome IV criteria was substantial, as shown by a positive Spearman correlation (r2) of 0.553 (p